Chewit
Striker
Appreciate the point you’re making but I think it’s slightly different.
O’Nien and Gooch’s performances have often been quite poor this season. I appreciate they’re pragmatic picks and are very much horses courses but that’s not to say they’ve played well consistently. Both have had stick because their product has often been below the standard required.
I’m a bit young to argue confidently but I’m not sure that was that the case with Stiles (it’s an argument that’s made about Henderson at a higher level in the modern game)
Gooch had completely lost his way under Johnson. Judge him by the last ten games and Neil is getting best out of him.
Playing a much simpler game and is highly effective with crossing, possession, defending, availability, being part of a unit, hurting defences etc etc, transformed would be a good description.
On current form he is one of the best players in the division. Fingers crossed he can sustain it.